Sugar Free Recipes!!

Honey Orange Chicken
modified Chef Shaun recipe from KPS


3/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup honey (we also use agave)
1 t grated ginger
1 t garlic
zest from one orange
1 t salt (optional)
1/8 t pepper
1 1/2 lbs chicken breast
1 t vegetable oil (we use coconut)

1. Combine first seven ingredients. Add chicken and stir to coat
cover and refridgerate for 30 minutes.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat until hot; add vegetable oil and swirl to coat. Lift chicken from marinade and let excess drip back into bowl. When oil is hot, add chicken and cook over medium heat 3 minutes per side until golden brown.
3. Add reserved marinade to skillet and boil over medium-high heat, turning chicken once or twice, 3 to 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and sauce is reduced by half. Transfer chicken to cutting board, cut into diagonal slices, and arrange on a plated. Spoon sauce over chicken.

***We make this recipe nearly every week. The kids LOVE it! We eat it over rice.


Citrus Salmon
Recipe by Melanie

Zest from one orange (or Lemon)
2 teaspoons grated ginger
3 Tablespoons softened (not melted) butter
3 Tablespoons agave or honey
1 teaspon garlic (or one clove minced)
1 lb salmon (wild caught)

Grease a pie pan or 9 x9 glass dish. Mix first 5 ingredients. Put mixture over salmon. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until Salmon flakes.

My kids LOVE this recipe! They ask for Salmon and it is so healthy!!! =)

REFLECTION!!!!

I was reflection today about how my life has changed since going sugar free!

Here are a few improvements:

1. I no longer want sugar. It looks good, it smells good, and I am sure it would taste good, but I now how harmful it would be!

2. I really do not crave sugar. If for some bizarre reason I have a craving-the craving is extremely mild and I can talk myself out of it!

3. I have energy! I do not crash in the afternoons.

4. I feel good enough I may never go back to consuming sugar.

After my detox my metabolism will be "restarted" until I have my first serving of -you guessed it, SUGAR!!! (According to my chiropractor)

detoxing!!!

Today, I went to the chiro and have started detoxing, however, I will not be adding the weight loss (diet) part until next Friday-April 30th. I was tested for bugs (viral, bacterial, fungus, etc) and am on 4 different detox supplements. As suggested by the chiro, I am going to let the supplements fight off all the bugs before adding the diet. 2 of the 4 supplements can make me feel icky.
I am so excited to start the diet element of the detox. From what I have heard, I may lose 15lbs in 21 days!!! I am so excited. I may be crazy getting so excited about eating only fruits, veggies, and protien shakes!

I have started the Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred. I completed day 2 on the second level (there are 3 levels). I am sore but I am determined.

Goals!!! 2 days until I start my weight loss detox!!

I am so excited about my 21 day detox!!! I will be eating ONLY fruit, veggies, and protein shakes for the first 10 days.(50% more veggies than fruit, and 50% of my veggies are to be raw) Following the 1st 10 days, I will be adding small quantities of lean meat. I will be drinking at least 64 oz of water and taking supplements (several pills)! I have heard of people losing an incredible amount of weight.

I will also be starting Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred work out!! YAY!

1. Start Shred workout MONDAY!
2. Drink 64 ounces of water starting MONDAY!
3. Shop for a variety of veggies and fruit.
4. Blog EVERY day of detox (and add pictures)

counting down, goals

9 days until I start my weight loss cleanse!!! Yay! I am so excited. I will be starting April 21st with eating fruits, veggies, and protein drinks. =) I will post more about this cleanse as I start it. For those of you who know the dangers of completing a cleanse, I will be monitored by a health care professional!

Goals:
1. Maintain weight loss
2. Drink more water
3. Portion control (eat less)
4. Locate 30 day shred video (Jillian Micheal's) to use during my cleanse
5. Exercise 3-5 times this week!
6. Watch cleanse video to prepare for cleanse (I have a video that explains the steps of the cleanse)

I am still sugar free!!!!! =) (and my husband is 10+ days sugar free!!!!

Super yummy

Granola bars:

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all purpose flour (I use a GF multi-purpose flour)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup butter, softened (I use coconut oil or a combo of both)

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 cups nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips (I use raisins and dried cherries)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease 9x13 pan.

2. In bowl combine oats, flour, soda, vanilla, butter, honey, brown sugar. Stir in 2 cups of nuts, fruit, or chocolate chips.

3. Lightly press mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 325 for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool 10 minutes and cut into bars. Let cool completely before removing from pan.

*I press the granola bars with a spatula as soon as they come out of the oven and they hold together better.

**If you cut them early or get them out of the pan early they will crumble. =)

***I make at least 2 batches at a time and bag them individually. I put them in the fridge or freezer as a quick snack. The kids love 'em!

*****This is not a sugar free recipe so I do not eat them!! I have made them sugar free with agave but I sill do not eat them (because I do not eat oats). BUT the people in my life that eat these say they are better than store-bought granola bars!!!

pictures-yay for progress!

To date, I have lost 20lbs!! I would like to lose at least 25 more pounds!! =)

Lately, I am struggling to complete full workouts. I am still exercising abour 3 times a week, but I would like to intensify the workouts!!!

My husband is on board!!! (oh, and goals!)

My husband has started going to my chiropractor!!!! He found out his food sensitivities (a VERY extensive list that INCLUDES SUGAR!!!!) and he is doing a cleanse. He already started the cleanse!!! =) So, my husband is sugar free- it is his 5th day and he will be sugar free for at least 3 months!
I will be starting my cleanse April 21st (maybe before).
I have finished my Biggest Loser 12 week program. I lost 20lbs in 12 weeks. I am planning to lose 20 more by July. I need to find another workout program. Until I find a program I am going to complete a shortened Biggest Loser program. I would like to do the 30 day shred and I hope to run 8 miles in October. I need to start training!
In the past few weeks I have realized I do not have "crashes" when I feel like I need to eat. I don't crave food. Sometimes, I forget to eat. Weird. Before eating healthier, I would eat all the time and feel like I needed to eat all the time. I would feel like I needed to eat something sweet right after a big meal!! Now, I don't.
Also, I have more energy! I feel like I don't have enough day for all my energy-instead of not having enough energy for my day (like the old me).

This weeks Goals:
1. Work out 3-5 times.
2. Water, water, water.
3. Find more recipes of acceptable foods.
4. Upload more pictures to blog and blog more!